THERESA LEE MCAVOY

LAMAR- The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, at Daniel Funeral Home for Theresa Lee (Dalrymple) McAvoy, 94, Lamar, who died Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. A private family burial will be held.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include a daughter, Janet Estep, Columbia, Mo.; grandchildren, Andrew Estep, Missouri, Deana Foxen, California and Timothy McAvoy and Lauren Glassman, both of Colorado; great-grandchildren, Austin Foxx, Taryn Foxen, Grace Glassman and Jack Glassman; great-great grandson, Kaz Foxx; one brother, R.L. Dalrymple, Thomas, Okla and two sisters, Letha Gail Blagg, Kansas City, Mo. and Lucille Dalrymple, Houston, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean McAvoy; son, Gary Dean McAvoy; three sisters, Dorothy "Jean" Watts, Cleta Tullius and Ruth Ann Jones and one brother, Donald Dalrymple.

Mrs. McAvoy was born June 9, 1928, in Thomas, Okla., to Elmer and Stella (Lapel) Dalrymple. During the Great Depression and the ration card years of WWII, she helped support the family by working in the fields of watermelon, sweet potato and cotton.

She married Ivan “Dean” McAvoy on Sept. 21, 1947, in Thomas, Okla., when he returned from service in the Army. They left Oklahoma and moved to Lamar in 1953 with their toddler son, Gary Dean McAvoy, to begin farming. With Mr. McAvoy using his GI Bill to finance his farming business interests, they proceeded to build a successful crop and beef farm.

Mrs. McAvoy was a full-time farm wife while also working part-time at Bean's and the Rag Bag on the town square as well as the jewelry counter at the original Walmart store. She was also an active volunteer in the Barton County 4-H programs, as well as a project leader and a judge. She enjoyed gardening to provide for her family and neighbors. She enjoyed driving the farm trucks to the elevator during harvest. But most of all, she enjoyed her handwork and sewing. She was never one to sit idle and her embroidery, needlework and sewing were her pride and joy.